NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53
The Mise-en-Scène Short Film Festival usually doesn’t get much attention.
Sure, people in the film industry recognize it, but it lacks mainstream appeal.
But then…
“Kim Donghu, is he also taking over cinemas like TV? Bold move!”
As soon as Kim Donghu popped up, everything changed.
Having already made a name for himself with [Hydream] and as the representative of the Brilliant school uniforms,
it was a given that the popular and talented Kim Donghu bagged the grand prize four times!
You couldn’t help but be interested, no matter how hard you tried to look away.
Especially with…
“Director Lee Seong-deok raising societal questions? Has a society in need of ‘heroes’ arrived?”
The film itself posed small questions to society, and the impact was huge.
A short film even climbed to the 9th spot on real-time search rankings – enough said.
“Nah, Kim Donghu is crazy, how many bodies has he got?”
“Is he fit? Is he actually fifteen?”
“Can I download ‘Hero’ as a torrent?”
“Dude, please just go die in a fire;”
“But seriously, he’s ridiculously handsome. It’s like every time I see him, he gets handsomer.”
“Get [Hydream] ratings to 30%, then next is four grand prizes at the Mise-en-Scène? What’s the plan? LOL”
Just how far does he plan to go?
Is work really that non-stop?
That evening, while rumors swirled around the community,
people caught a glimpse of a movie ad on TV.
“…Endless Frontlines?”
The scenes made it obvious it was inspired by the Korean War.
“Do you know how many times this frontline has changed?”
“How many died just to take that hill?”
And there was Han Tae-geon confidently showcasing his good looks.
Fierce battles over one hill.
As the intense vibe seeped through…
“…Is there really white rice and soup over there?”
A brief narration wrapped it up against a black screen.
Normally, one would enjoy guessing whose voice it was.
But people had just been hearing that voice days ago.
“Is our Donghu oppa in a movie?!”
After proving how well he could act in short films,
that evening, he shows up in a commercial film ad just like that?
Ta-da!
With the Mise-en-Scène Short Film Festival’s four grand prizes as a springboard,
the real-time search rankings flipped in an instant.
In less than 10 minutes since the ad aired,
everything related to Kim Donghu skyrocketed:
1. Endless Frontlines
2. Endless Frontlines Han Tae-geon
3. Han Tae-geon
4. Kim Donghu
5. Four Grand Prizes
6. Hero
They devoured the top spots in real-time searches.
+++++
The screening schedule for [Endless Frontlines] has been set for next week,
and I found myself with a week to spare.
During that time, I had made plans.
A foolproof way to perfectly spend my days.
“Off to school, then.”
I guess I should show some spirit about racking up middle school attendance days.
Shouldn’t we do something about this?
As soon as I got to school, Ye-rim greeted me like she had been waiting.
“Dong-ho! Isn’t it a bit too long since we last saw each other at school?”
“Right? This is a big deal.”
I approached Kang Sik with a serious expression after Ye-rim’s words.
“Uh, uh, Dong-ho, hi.”
“Kang Sik, how’s that game of yours going? How much has Min-hyuk improved?”
“Oh, um, you know, he was offline for a while, so Min-hyuk just conquered everything…”
“…!”
Kim Min-hyuk, that little rascal.
How dare he do such a thing?
‘I only caught him a few times during cops and robbers at lunchtime.’
To repay that kindness like this?
Shoving aside my shock, I spent the day leisurely at school.
I tried the school lunch for the first time in ages,
hiding in the library when caught during tag,
> Dong-ho, I’m suddenly sorry for contacting you.
> But no matter how I think about it, your decision seems most important.
> Really, are you not thinking of coming to our school?
I also received the usual text from Principal Edward Park.
Now it was nearing the second semester of 2nd year middle school.
It was definitely time to seriously consider high school.
‘I need to think about the performing arts high school now before it’s too late.’
Honestly, there wasn’t much to think about.
The best option was to go to a place that manages celebrity attendance the best.
< Of course I'm going! Thank you for your concern. < Dong-ho, you really made the right choice. Your musical talent is— I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket, unable to bear the rest of the text from Principal Edward Park. 'So, is my high school decision pretty much set then?' Does that mean I'll be going to the same school as Su-Jin next year? 'Since I entered a grade early, I’ll be a senior when I get there.' Su-Jin will be a senior. While I was lost in thought, > Dong-ho, have you decided where you’re going for high school? Are you going to the performing arts school?
Jae-rin’s text arrived.
< Uh, yeah, I'm going to that performing arts school? > Oh, I see, got it.
What? Did she see something? I replied with that feeling.
Jae-rin just responded with an acknowledgment and said nothing further.
‘Oh right, isn’t there the Brilliant uniform event next week?’
I’ll finally get to see her again after a long time.
Was she trying not to say anything just for our chat then?
‘But why have you been so quiet lately?’
In the lazy hours,
I checked my phone for texts from [Sims – The Real Life].
Normally, I would expect something to be thrown my way by now.
But it had been completely quiet for the last few days.
And maybe I finally caught on to that late.
Ding ding ding!
After a long while, a text from [Sims – The Real Life] arrived.
– [Q. What happens to loving couples when they get along better?]
– [A. You get a second child!]
“…”
An unexpected announcement about a sibling.
I suddenly smiled wryly, thinking of my parents, who have been inseparable lately.
“Yeah, no wonder they’ve been getting along so well these days.”
My younger sibling’s news coming through a text was shocking in many ways.
++++++
Time flew by and it was the day of the [Endless Frontline] premiere.
[Endless Frontline] adopted a VIP screening method.
They figured it was more effective for promotion, especially since “The public is probably super hyped about Endless Frontline.”
With Kim Donghu snagging the Best Director award and all eyes on him, they thought adding expert praise to the mix would be a good strategy.
Click click click.
Every time a celebrity stepped on the photo wall, camera flashes burst like crazy.
The light was painfully bright, but no one cared and just kept exchanging light greetings.
“Wow, so hot, seriously good-looking.”
“Just being up close is awesome.”
The regular folks were just happy to see the stars, even if they couldn’t watch the movie.
Then suddenly…
“Ahhhhh!”
The excitement surged when actor Han Tae-geon, playing Kim Soo-ha, made his entrance.
Not just Han Tae-geon, but Seo Myung-woo and Ko Chang-sik, too.
The leading actors gathered for light interviews and greetings.
“What do you think is the key point of this movie?” the host asked for the movie’s highlights.
Upon hearing this, Han Tae-geon smiled faintly and replied immediately.
“Please pay close attention to the actor playing the unnamed role.”
Unnamed role? Who could that be?
As people pondered that, there was a buzz in the crowd.
“Look over there, our secret weapon is coming!”
When Han Tae-geon waved enthusiastically, a boy bowed in response.
The character that [Endless Frontline] had kept secret even in the trailers, a mysterious figure known to all but still a secret.
“Wait, Kim Donghu is in Endless Frontline for real?!”
Kim Donghu appeared at the VIP premiere.
Knowing about it and seeing it live felt completely different, leaving everyone in shock, unable to grasp how things were unfolding.
How did he even get into the theater? How did the actor greetings happen?
They were stunned by the surprise, their heads spinning.
Then…
Boom!
When the lights in the screening room went out and the movie began, the audience invited to the VIP screening finally snapped back to reality.
At that point in the screening, halfway through [Endless Frontline], the audience was left wondering,
“What’s happening, why isn’t he on screen yet?”
“Is it true that Kim Donghu is really in this?”
He fell into a dilemma.
He definitely knew that actor Kim Donghu had even made an appearance at the stage greeting.
But for some reason, he didn’t show up in the film.
As doubts about Kim Donghu’s participation grew…
“What on earth is this revolution that we live like this?”
The screen suddenly changes.
Thud! Thud!
Contrary to the sound of horses, there’s nothing on the screen.
The only sound heard is something thudding repeatedly.
Thwack! Thwack.
A sound of something breaking.
Along with that sound, the dirt on the camera seems to be wiped off.
The screen brightens, revealing the situation.
The first thing that catches the eye is a cold corpse clutching supplies tightly.
“Yeah, I ate it. But is that a problem?”
Next, a blood-soaked boy appears.
No explanation needed for what happened.
The boy who killed his comrade to get food tramples the corpse’s neck.
“If you’re going to die like this, someone else should eat more.”
Creeeeak, crack!
The sound of something breaking.
A formidable appearance.
‘…Is this Kim Donghu?’
The overwhelming presence sends shivers down his spine.
He can feel the fear crawling under his skin like centipedes.
“That’s not me.”
Hoo.
With a short exhale, a breath lingers at the end of Kim Donghu, or rather the Student Soldier.
“Sister, is there really something in others?”
Eyes mixed with longing and nostalgia flash briefly on the screen.
A hint of humanity buried beneath malice.
All the audience could do was sit there, mouths agape in dumbfounded admiration.
Squeeeaaak!
Meanwhile…
There was someone watching the film as if ready to tear off the armrest.
‘Kim Donghu…!’
It was none other than Director Kang Sang-hun, with his Guan Yu beard.
Even after watching it again, he couldn’t help but admire the acting and thought.
‘The breakeven point for the endless front lines is around 4 million…’
But with this momentum.
‘I see it.’
Endless front lines, 10 million.
If that happens, Kim Donghu will be a four-time winner at the short film festival.
In his first commercial film debut.
‘Is he about to become a 10 million actor?’
How high is he planning to go?
He couldn’t even guess.